Production of polyether diols using water as a telogen

摘要

1,149,726. Catalytic preparation of polyoxyalkylene ether diols; polyurethanes. GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER CO. 5 Oct., 1966 [15 Oct., 1965], No. 44569/66. Heading C3R. Polyoxyalkylene ether diols, wherein the hydroxyl groups are substantially terminal, are prepared by admixing at least one polymerizable organic cyclic oxide monomer having a ring of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and 1 oxygen atom and up to a total of 18 carbon atoms, said oxide being an epoxide, oxetane, 3-substituted oxetane or 3,3-disubstituted oxetane, with water which is present in an amount of from 0À0001 to 5 per cent by weight of said monomer, in the presence of a catalyst which is present in an amount of from 0À001 to 15 per cent by weight of said monomer, said catalyst comprising a double metal cyanide complex compound having the general formula Ma.(Z)c.(H 2 O)d.(R)e, wherein Z is M1(CN)b or M1(CN)r(X)t; M is at least one of Zn(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Mo(IV), Mo(VI), Al(III), V(IV), V(V), Sr(II), W(IV), W(VI), Mn(II) and Cr(III); M1 is at least one of Fe(II), Fe(III), CO(II), Co(III), Cr(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mn(III), V(IV) and V(V); X is at least one of F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, OH-, NO, O-, CO, H 2 O, NO 2 -, C 2 O 4 -, SO 4 -, CNO-, CNS-, NCO- and NCS-; R is a low molecular weight organic compound having up to 18 carbon atoms and being an alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether, ester, amide, nitrile or sulphide; a, b and c are numbers whose values are functions of the valences and co-ordination numbers of M and M1, the total net positive charge on M times a being essentially numerically equal to the total net negative charge on Z times c; r and t are numbers, r being greater than t; d is 0 or a number and e is 0 or a number (integer): and maintaining said admixture at a temperature at which said water and cyclic oxide react to produce said polyoxyalkylene ether diols. Examples of suitable catalysts are zinc cobalticyanideketone and -acyclic polyether complexes and zinc hexacyanoferrate-cyclic diether complexes. The reaction temperature is preferably between 0‹ and 125‹C. The resulting polyoxyalkylene ether diols may be reacted with organic diisocyanates to yield polyurethane foams and elastomers.